Black Deaf History: Dr. Shirley Allen

Tiffany Freeman: A Black woman named Shirley Allen is the first Black Deaf woman in the U.S. to earn a doctoral degree.

[Image of Allen, credit: News10NBC]

She got her Bachelor’s degree from Gallaudet University then an Master’s degree from Howard University. In 1992, she got her doctoral degree in education from the University of Rochester.

[Image of Allen, credit: Marquis Who’s Who]

Dr. Allen’s original dream was to become a musician until she became deaf from typhoid fever. Dr. Allen experienced racial discrimination and communication barriers so she made her experiences into opportunities for advocacy work.

[Image of Allen, credit: News10NBC]

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She was a professor at RIT from 1972 until she retired in 2001.

[Image of Allen, credit: RIT/NTID]

Jarvis Christian College recognized Dr. Allen by granting her into the Pioneer Hall of Fame in 1992.

[Image of Allen, credit: News10NBC]

She really accomplished a lot in her life. That’s Black Excellence!